Anyone use a subsoiler for planting PEX?

[Texas B]

I would like to run PEX across a small finishing yard for an additional water trough. I've used a middle buster once and didn't get the depth I wanted. Is this a good buy for the purpose?

 

[chevytaHOE5674]

I built a ripper to plow in poly pipe. Hard ground I have to pre-rip before a 2nd pass to pull in the pipe. Plow 3 foot deep with a 200hp tractor.

Depending what kind of distance your talking renting or hiring a small backhoe or miniX maybe more cost effective.

 

[Texas B]

I built a ripper to plow in poly pipe. Hard ground I have to pre-rip before a 2nd pass to pull in the pipe. Plow 3 foot deep with a 200hp tractor.

Depending what kind of distance your talking renting or hiring a small backhoe or miniX maybe more cost effective.

Maybe ~60 yards. I have a T4-115. It wouldn't be difficult to make a few passes. I have a larger project coming up, so I'm thinking to buy a 3pt receiver and a subsoiler.

 

[RustyTub]

Pondered it and even bought a subsoiler but decided tractor wasn't big enough. Ended up buying a trencher for skid steer.

 

[cowman82]

If you're in texas I think youll be fine. You don't need it very deep.

I'd rethink pex pipe and go with an actual black poly pipe made for ground contact.

 

[BFE]

If you're in texas I think youll be fine. You don't need it very deep.

I'd rethink pex pipe and go with an actual black poly pipe made for ground contact.

Yes HDPE. Don't buy the old "black roll"plastic, it's not nearly as durable.

 

[BFE]

I built a ripper to plow in poly pipe. Hard ground I have to pre-rip before a 2nd pass to pull in the pipe. Plow 3 foot deep with a 200hp tractor.

Depending what kind of distance your talking renting or hiring a small backhoe or miniX maybe more cost effective.

I figured your frost line was deeper, I assume it's the three feet of snow on the ground that makes that depth possible?

 

[bird dog]

Rent a walk behind trencher and quit screwing around trying to save $300.

 

[cowman82]

Rent a walk behind trencher and quit screwing around trying to save $300.

i'm not sure about TX but around here that walk behind will just bounce and not do a thing

 

[chevytaHOE5674]

I figured your frost line was deeper, I assume it's the three feet of snow on the ground that makes that depth possible?

Frost line is 5-6 feet. My 3' waterlines are all just summer rotational pasture use. Drain them in the fall and blow them out.

If I want year round water I dig them all 6-8 feet deep with a backhoe pr excavator.

 

[chevytaHOE5674]

Rent a walk behind trencher and quit screwing around trying to save $300.

Most walk behind trenchers will do 24" depth. I can plow in pipe 24" deep in 1 pass at 10x the speed of a trencher all from an AC cab with the radio playing.

 

[Texas B]

Thank you all. I am in Texas and 24" would be more than enough. (I believe housing goes 3 ft) Now I need to look at PEX alternatives as well.

 

[chevytaHOE5674]

Everything I put in is HDPE 200psi pipe and I've yet to have an issue. It's available in 1500' rolls so no underground splices are typically needed.

 

[greybeard]

There's lots of very shallow rock in some parts of Texas, including my area. From 6" deep to on top of the ground. Gets much worse just a little ways west of here. Some places it's soft limestone, many places marble or worse, granite. I'd hate to use a trencher here, much less pull a ripper just a little ways west of here..

 

[Mighty Mouse]

Now I need to look at PEX alternatives as well.

PEX or HDPE would both work just fine. At the distance you're talking, you can easily get a coil of continuous pipe long enough to make the entire run with no mid-line splices.

 

[BFE]

You might be able to go to your local rural water utility if you have one and get just what you need. I contract operate the one in my county, and keep a 500 ft roll of 3/4 on hand. We would do that and bill you for what you take.

 

[RockingV]

Second on using HDPE pipe, better suited for direct burial, available in higher pressure ratings, several options for fittings, heavier wall, etc…

I have some leased ground where the owner ran pex from well house to the hydrants. The prairie dogs and mice have decimated it.

 

[Silver]

I rented one of these a couple of times. Cut through frost and rock like no one's business.

 

[cowman82]

Thank you all. I am in Texas and 24" would be more than enough. (I believe housing goes 3 ft) Now I need to look at PEX alternatives as well.

In KY we went 16-18" deep and never had a problem. I would think that would be fine for your in TX as well.

 

[Stonewall Joe]

If you're in texas I think youll be fine. You don't need it very deep.

I'd rethink pex pipe and go with an actual black poly pipe made for ground contact.